Switch and operating means therefor



oct. 9, 1951 v G, FARLEY 2,570,783

SWITCH AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 3, 1950 F/G. l/b

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la L J l2 l /9 )gil ;g Il Il 23a F/G` 3 Q l 1 -i /NVE/vroR vl//A/cE/vrG. FARLEV Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE SWITCHHANDOPERATING MEANS 'rHEREFoR Vincent G. Farley, Montclair, N. J.

Application November 3, 1950, Serial No. 193,848

Claims.

This invention relates to switches and operating means therefor and hasfor an object to provide an improved construction in which the operatinghandle may be readily removed and reapplied. Y

Another object i s to provide, a switch having a detent mechanism fordetaining the switch in two or more positions o f adjustment and havinga removable operating handle which is vheld in place by a part of saiddetent mechanism.

Another object isto provide such an improved construction in which apart of the removable handle or other operating device cooperatesdirectlywith a spring biased detent.

Other objects will appear from the following description of anillustrative embodiment of the invention taken together with theattached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is what may be regarded as a top view of a part of a switch andoperating means therefor serving to illustrate one form the inventionmay take;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 ofFig. 1, certain parts being shown in full;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2,certain parts beingshown broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view of certain of the parts.

Referring to said drawings, II indicates generally the base of theswitch shown and may consist of a bottom ring IIa and a cylindricalenclosure ring I Ib. Attached to the ring I la, as by screws I2, are twosupporting bushings I3 on the upper ends of which is supported anannular detent spring I4, it being clamped under the heads of screws I2.The other side of the detent ring is provided with a downwardly bent earI5 formed with two V-shaped extensions I6 and I'I which together formfour detent surfaces. Also attached to the ring Ila, as by a screw orrivet I8, is a switch operating ring I9 pivoted on said screw or rivetI8. Said switch operating ring at a point away from the pivot is formedwith a bifurcated switch operating ear 20 which embraces a stud 2|attached to a slidable switch member 22 located within the housing 23.Said slidable switch member carries switch contacts 22a, which cooperateas required with stationary switch contacts 23a. It will be seen thatwhen switch operating member I9 is moved about its pivot I8, the switchmember 22 will be caused to move so as to change the relationship ofcontacts 22a with contacts 23a. The switch shifting member I9 is alsopro- 2 vided with a bushing 25 within which is firmly secured a rod 26.

The switch operator consists of a handle 21 having molded or screwthreaded thereinto a connector 28 formed with a tubular part to fitloosely over rod Y26 and also provided with a circumferential groove 29slightly wider than the thickness of the bent over ear I5 the edge ofwhich is received in said groove 29. The connector member 28 extendsthrough a slot 3!! formed in thering member I'Ib.

It will be readily understood that when the handle 21 is moved up ordownfrom the position shown in Fig. 1, it will oscillate theswitch'operating ring I9 which will correspondingly operate the switchoperating stud 2I vand the switch member 22. Furthermore, the detentspring I4 will be cammed up out of the way while the connector 28 ispassing under the high point of the V- shaped extensions i6 or I'I sothat the switch operating ring I9 and associated parts will be detainedin either the central position shown in Fig. 1 or a position above orbelow thereof. In addition to the parts I5 and 23 cooperating to providesuch detent action, they perform a second function, namely, to lock thehandle from withdrawal off of rod 26. This provides a simple andeiective holding means at no cost and one permitting ready removal orreplacement of the operating handle. To accomplish removal, a screwdriver or the like is passed in through slot 30, is rocked to cam thedetent spring I4 upwardly permitting the withdrawal of the handle 2l andconnector 28. To replace the handle, the detent spring is similarlypried up by means of a screw driver or the like and the connector 28pushed in over rod 2B, or, if preferred, the end of connector 28 may bechamfered as at 28a so that it can be pushed into place without rstraising the detent spring since the detent spring will be cammed up bythe pressure of the chamfered edge thereagainst.

In the form shown, the center of the assembly is left open so that itmay surround another member such as the steering post of a motor car inwhich event it may be used as a direction signal switch or the like. Itis to be understood, however, that the present invention may be appliedin various other ways. The convenient removal and replacement of theswitch operating handle is particularly useful where it is desired toremove the handle for safety reasons as when the switch is used forcontrolling the motor of a dangerous machine. Another useful eld ofapplication is where it is desired to have the switch handle readilyinterchangeable so that handles of different colors may be applied to tin with the color scheme as when used for wall switches or in lamps orthe like.

It will be noted that the construction shown and described will serveadmirably to accomplish the objects stated above. It is to beunderstood, however, that the construction disclosed above is intendedmerely as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting, as variousmodications therein may be made without departing from the invention asdened by a proper interpretation of the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. In a switch of the type having at least one stationary contact and atleast one movable contact, the combination comprising a pivoted operatorfor operating said movable Ycontact and formed with a cylindricalextension, a handle, a tubular member attached to said handle andtelescopically embracing said cylindrical extension, said tubular memberbeing formed exteriorly with a groove, and a spring detent extendinginto said groove and provided with detent surfaces, whereby said detentserves to detain the pivoted operator in different positions ofadjustment and also serves to retain the handle against removal.

2. In a switch or the type having atleast one stationary contact and atleast one movable contact, the combination comprising a movableopervator for operating said movable contact and formed with acylindrical extension, a handle connected with said movable operator bymeans of a tubular member attached to the handle and formed with agroove, and a spring detent extending into said groove and provided withdetent surfaces, whereby said detent serves to vdetain the movableoperator in different positions of adjustment `and also serves to retainthe handle against removal.

3. In a switch of the type having at .least one stationary contact andat least one movable contact, the combination comprising a movableoperator for operating said movable con-tact, a handle member connectedwith said movable operator by means of a telescopic connectioncomprising two telescoping members one of which is attached to thehandle and is formed with a groove, and a spring detent extending intosaid groove and provided with detent surfaces, whereby said detentserves to detain the movable operator in different Positions ofadjustment and also serves to retain the handle against removal.

4. In a switch of the type having at least one stationary contact and atleast one movable contact, the combination comprising a ring-shapedoperator for operating said movable contact pivoted at one side, ahandle member connected with said operator diametrically opposite itspivot by means of a ytelescopic connection comprising two telescopingmembers one of which is attached to the operator and the other isattached to the handle and is formed with a groove, and a ring-shapedspring detent Supported near the pivot of said operator and formed witha bent over ear extending into said groove and provided 'with detentsurfaces, whereby said detent serves to detain the movable operator indifferent positions of adjustment and also serves to retain the handleagainst removal.

5. A device for use in a switch having atleast one stationary contactand at least Ione movable contact, an operator for operating saidmovable contact into and out of contact with said stac tionary contact,a handle for moving Said operator and a spring detent for detaining saidoperator in one of a plurality of positions, said device comprising atubular member having one end open and the Iother end provided withmeans for attaching it te said handle, said open end being adapted totelescope over a -cylindrical extension attached to said operator andbeing provided with an external groove adapted to receive said springdetent.

VNCENT G. FARLE'Y,

.No references cited,

